Microencapsulation of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed oil by complex coacervation: Stability and application in an instant caffè latte beverage.

Pomegranate seed oil (PSO) is rich in highly oxidizable bioactive conjugated linolenic acids (cLnA), limiting food applications. This study aimed to investigate the oxidative stability (room temperature for 90 days; 60 °C, for 10 days, vacuum-sealed or not), physical and morphological properties of PSO microparticles produced by complex coacervation (CC). An instant caffè latte beverage was formulated with PSO microparticles (30%) as a proof-of-application vehicle for the microparticles and physical properties were evaluated. CC was compared with spray drying. Although non-coacervated microparticles showed superior oxidative stability, coacervated microparticles were overall stable for 60 days and cLnA retention reduced 42% after γ-tocopherol exhaustion. Coacervated microparticles' structure was collapsed after 90 days. Storage under vacuum increased the oxidative stability at 60 °C. Microparticles showed high solubility and thermal stability, addition to the product promoted negligible changes in physical properties. This study brings new insights regarding cLnA stability and PSO application in food.

Evolution of the metabolic profile of virgin olive oil during deep-frying: Assessing the transfer of bioactive compounds to the fried food.

Deep-frying in virgin olive oil (VOO) is favorable due to its desirable composition and high content of bioactive compounds that can be transferred to fried food. The main goal of this work was to investigate the evolution of VOO metabolic profile during consecutive deep-frying cycles and assess the transfer of metabolites to French fries. The evolution of 56 compounds was monitored by two complementary liquid chromatography methods, using mass spectrometry, diode array, and fluorescence detectors. Sterols and lignans were remarkably stable (greater than 70 % retention in frying oil). Seven out of the ten compounds' classes identified in the oil were transferred to the fried food. Potatoes fried in Arbequina oil from Brazil incorporated the highest amounts of VOO minor components, among the analyzed samples, and sterols presented the highest transfer rate. French fries were enriched by VOO bioactive compounds during deep-frying, especially on the first two days, improving their nutritional value.

Benzene as a Chemical Hazard in Processed Foods.

This paper presents a literature review on benzene in foods, including toxicological aspects, occurrence, formation mechanisms, and mitigation measures and analyzes data reporting benzene levels in foods. Benzene is recognized by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) as carcinogenic to humans, and its presence in foods has been attributed to various potential sources: packaging, storage environment, contaminated drinking water, cooking processes, irradiation processes, and degradation of food preservatives such as benzoates. Since there are no specific limits for benzene levels in beverages and food in general studies have adopted references for drinking water in a range from 1-10 ppb. The presence of benzene has been reported in various food/beverage substances with soft drinks often reported in the literature. Although the analyses reported low levels of benzene in most of the samples studied, some exceeded permissible limits. The available data on dietary exposure to benzene is minimal from the viewpoint of public health. Often benzene levels were low as to be considered negligible and not a consumer health risk, but there is still a need of more studies for a better understanding of their effects on human health through the ingestion of contaminated food.